Ligamentous instabilities of the elbow joint

The elbow joint is the second most commonly dislocated joint in adults. Dislocations and fracture-dislocations with their typical injury patterns substantially determine therapeutic consequences. Osteoligamentous combination injuries have a poor prognosis if the corresponding injury patterns are not adequately recognized and addressed. Standardized diagnostic algorithms help to avoid misinterpretations regarding the severity of the injury and the subsequent complications. The vast majority of simple elbow dislocations have a good prognosis and can be managed without operative intervention by early functional motion. Complex injury patterns require a mostly technically demanding surgical treatment. A standardized surgical algorithm may be the cornerstone to achieve satisfactory functional results.